Ireland's chances of reaching Euro 2024 were dealt a major blow this week after the Boys in Green were beaten 2-1 by Greece in Athens on Saturday. The defeat has given Ireland a mountain to climb in terms of qualification. Greece are three points ahead of Ireland with a game in hand, and Stephen Kenny's side has to deal with the Dutch and the French in September.
Ireland will play France on September 7 in France, and three days later they will welcome Ronald Koeman's Holland to Dublin on September 10. After this, on October 13, Ireland will play Greece.
Despite losing to France 1-0 in Dublin in March, it was seen as Ireland's best display of the campaign. Collins, who has become an established member of the new Ireland squad, believes Ireland's gutsy display against "Les Bleus" can help them get results in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
"You saw what we did with France at home, we frustrated the life out of them," said Collins as he picked up the Senior Men's International Player of the Year at the 33rd FAI International Awards on Tuesday night. "We created chances. I have no doubt they're a really good team. Once it clicks for them, they'll be unbelievable. But we have to disrupt them and make it awkward for them.
(Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)"I think everyone has belief that we can nick a result. Everyone has belief we can beat France, so we'll just have to see. That's football. Everyone knows anything can happen. We're Irish, anything can happen if you're Irish. We've pulled off some great results before, so who's to say we can't do it again?"
The Dutch have struggled for any consistency in the group as well, and Collins believes that Ireland can also get a result because of previous impressive displays against the bigger sides. Ireland were narrowly beaten by Portugal, France, Serbia, and others in past fixtures, but the lack of effort has never evaded Ireland in the games.
"They were still good [against France]. They still created chances," added Collins. "They had a lot of the ball. They had the majority of the ball. But France took their chances. I've no doubt they're a really good team. Once it clicks for them, they'll be unbelievable. But we have to disrupt them and make it awkward for them.
"Football's one of the great sports. Everyone knows anything can happen. We're Irish. Anything can happen if you're Irish. We've pulled off some great results before, so who's to say we can't do it again?"
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